1 One thing you didn't mention was how sub-par the translation was.  Opinions differ on the dub (I didn't like it, mostly), but the sub was dreck.  I'll concede the visual problems caused by the subtitle standards, but the translation itself was stilted at best.  They'd have done far better to just lift a.f.k.'s excellent sub; all the more amazing for their ability to consistently turn it out in 24 hours. 

Bandai caught a lot of flack from the fans for shoving an inferior product out the door, and not all of it can be put down to deranged fans for whom everything must be perfect.  I mean, I love the show, but I'm also the person that said, "six episode series with eight fillers."

2 To be clear, "you didn't mention" isn't necessarily a criticism -- if you're choosing to treat the technical quality items as separate (I can't recall if you've included them in past reviews or only the blog).

And if you disagree about the translation, well, it's really hard, but I'll concede that your opinion is just as good as mine, so you keep it.

(yes, that's really humor, if you have a twisted sense of it, like me.)

3 The technical problems were the overriding factor there, though. I've worked with translations from the same translator myself, and while it's true that they're a bit stiff, it's nothing you can't script around. But to script effectively, you have to have room to DO it, and a lot of the more groan-worthy lines were ones where the translation was actually fine, but changed to get shoehorned into not enough space.

Ah well, that's what happens when you leave it to a subcontractor (who is not, er, me. ;p)

Say what you will about Bandai, they learned the lesson. I've got more assistance and backup on Lucky Star than I've had on anything since leaving ADV (yeah, well, okay, how the heck do you outdo having Shoko on tap?)

4 Actually, I don't disagree with you that much.  I'm just having fun with the whole "cult aspect" you mentioned.

In my last incomplete incarnation of the scoring system, I decided on a two-tier score; objective/subjective.  Objectively, HSnY has all the flaws you mentioned, and addition, the translation is crappy.  Subjectively, aside from the three episodes you mention, the show is top notch; and it remains one of the (if not THE) single most enjoyable anime I've seen, for its mix of humor, science fiction, high-school hijinks, and romance without angst.  It's very much a case of the subjective score bringing up the objective one. A show  should entertain me, and it did that in spades, with a surprisingly high rewatch for some episodes  (I just don't get tired of Haruhi drop-kicking the computer club prez).

If I had to combine the scores, I'd give it an A-, I think; split it would be Objective B-, Subjective A+.  You're harsher on the objective side, and I think your subjective valuation was hurt by coming to it so long after the buzz.  So be it; if we were all meant to have the same opinion, we'd live in Canada.  (I've been following that story too.  No wonder Haruhi was suspicious that Asakura had moved there...)

5 I'd rate it higher, but I can't say how much of that is subjective.  Well, all of it, I guess, but subjective to the individual experience.

Presented out of order, the filler episodes become teasers instead, tantalising you with hints of the revelations to come.  Far more effective that way.  Particularly when you have to wait a week... only to get another teaser.  That way, you end up remembering the highs and forgiving the teasing, and give the series as a whole the 3.5 you mention.

Perhaps not the greatest thing ever, but certainly in my top 25.

6 Could be worse. Could be "The Melancholy of Hillary Rodham".

7 AIEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!

8 Really, Steven, that was just plain mean.

9 But funny.